Can Type-3 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Coexist With Other Types Of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?

Posted on Tue, 23 May 2017

Question: can someone diagnosed with type 3 ehlers danlos really have another type? could symptoms of type 3 been misdiagnosed and is really one of the other ypes?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
A different type or even overlap is possible.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone through your query carefully and understand your concerns. There are a number of types of collagens, each having a definite type of function.

Ehler Danlos type 3 can coexist with other types of Ehler Danlos and therefore one may have another type. It is unlikely that a misdiagnosis would be done but it depends upon how the diagnosis has been made.

I would request you to elaborate on how the diagnosis was made and whether it was merely based on clinical findings alone. If it is just a clinical diagnosis then there may be a possibility of the type being incorrectly assigned.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (7 hours later)

My doctor in middle school noticed that my joints were hyper-flexible. I was sent to University of Michigan where they did a short physical exam and took a family history. I used to be able to pull my shoulders almost out of socket, my joints will occasionally bend the opposite direction.

I have been told i have normal tension glaucoma now.

At 5weeks old I had a duodenal duplication bowel obstruction. The opened up the 2 area and made one large opening.

At 7years I had a valvolus bowel obstruction.

At 21 years I had a bowel obstruction from adhesions.

At 32 I had a bowel obstruction, had gallbladdar removed (had abnormal neck and was terrilbly inflamed), had duodenal reconstructed. The area that was opened when I was 5weeks had protruded and formed a sack which everything got caught in (the pill endoscopy got stuck there for days)

I have IBS, diverticulitis, and a redundant colon (it apparently stretched out)

When I was in high school. I was told I had a slight mitral valve regurge. I also was tested with electrodes and told i had paramyotonia.

I have red dots rangeing from 1 to 3 mm where capilarys have burst. These are all over my body and larger where my stretch marks are. My scars also have stretched.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The fragility of blood vessels is the main concern.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for the inadvertent delay. The mentioned details are clearly indicative of Ehler Danlos. It is hard to comment on the type although type 3 is most common. But honestly speaking, it hardly matters as there is no known cure for Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and treatment is palliative. It remains to be evaluated whether you are prone to rupture of blood vessels. Although all types are potentially life-threatening, the majority of individuals have a normal lifespan. However, those with blood vessel fragility have a high risk of fatal complications. The mentioned symptoms do not seem to point to blood vessel fragility and so there is less cause to worry about.

Regards

Note: For detailed guidance on genetic screening consult a genetics specialist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad